Public Art to Honor the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“But the end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the beloved community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opposers into friends. It is this type of understanding goodwill that will transform the deep gloom of the old age into the exuberant gladness of the new age. It is this love which will bring about miracles in the hearts of men.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Facing the Challenge of a New Age,” 1956
Making the park worthy of his name
The Arts Center is contracted with City of Corvallis Parks and Recreation to coordinate selection processes to add permanent public art that are important enhancements at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park (MLK Park).
MLK Park is a beautiful 29-acre community park that is undergoing a multi-million dollar major park improvement. Public art in the park will help create a welcoming place for all people that ignites social change, complementing a park design inspired by Dr. King’s philosophies of inclusion and equality. For more about MLK Park, click here.
An open process was used to form an Art Selection Committee of art professionals and community members to choose artists or artist teams to create artwork for the park that reflects the spirit, values, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Beloved Community.
Corvallis Parks & Recreation and
The Arts Center host a
Community Information Sharing Session
Thursday, May 18, 5-7 pm
Selected Art Sites and Process
Public art and design elements will be utilized at multiple locations in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Selection criteria were developed through an Interpretive Design Plan embodying voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and visioning done by the MLK Park Ambassadors. Separate RFQs are currently under review for two of the three selected sites: (1) Entry Plaza, (2) The Commons. The third site will be an Art Mural Wall. The Art Selection Committee intends to select a different artist or artist team for each location.
Entry Plaza
Budget: Not to Exceed $300,000
Submissions Under Review
Commons
Budget: Not to Exceed $150,000
Submissions Under Review
Art Mural Wall
To be Scheduled
Selected Art Installation Sites:
Entry Plaza: Primary goals of this artwork are to:
- Reflect the spirit, values and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Beloved Community”.
- Create a transition from the ordinary-and-everyday to the special space and experience of the park.
- Provide open-ended, creative and surprising environments that emphasize freedom and discovery.
The Entry Plaza is the main entrance to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park and is visible from the parking lot and street. It serves as a welcoming portal to the park, and as a meeting place to gather with friends and share ideas, featuring a paved area with benches, a small performance stage, and arbors to provide shade. The selected art will serve as a physical and symbolic entrance to the park, and should welcome visitors to the park and inspire societal reflection and transformation.
Commons: Primary goals of this artwork are to:
- Reference meaningful connections between culture, history and the natural world.
- Provide open-ended, creative, and surprising environments that emphasize freedom and discovery.
- Celebrate the spirit, values and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Beloved Community.”
The Commons includes a walking trail and grass recreation area. The primary access point is via a paved path extending west from the Entry Plaza on the other side of a small bridge spanning a headwater tributary of Lamprey Creek.